Improvement in car-couplings



D. W. VOWLES. CAR-COUPLING} Patented'J'an.4, 1876.

A? 6 l ril UNITED STATES P T NT orrrca DANIEL w. vowLEs, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF'COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM H. LARNER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,889, dated anuary 4, 1876; application filed 5 To all whom it may concern;-

Be it known that I, DANIEL W; VOWLES, of the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new anduseful Improveinentin Oar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare struck by the coupling-link, and so hold thelink from being withdrawn by passing vertically through its opening.

The invention consists more particularly in the construction of the-gravitating-trip, and the manner in which it operates to suspend the coupling-pin at all times when required, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Like letters in the various figures upon the drawings indicate like parts.

Figure l is a vertical central section of my device, showing the coupling-pin as set for being automatically dropped. Fig. 2 is a view of the same after the pinhas fallen and entered the opening in the link, and the trip B in its receptacle forming a portion of the upper part of the arch or roof of the dome. Fig.

3 is a front view of my device before the link has entered it, showing the construction of the trip B. I

A designates lI-hG 'SO1ld draw-head, having flaring and open front, and hollowed out to form a semicircular chamber or partial dome, in which the trip plays. Formed in the two sides of the draw-head are vertical slots a, in

lower end 2 heavier and thicker from front to rear than the upper endl, so that by gravity the lower end 2 will overcome the upper end N oveinber 27, 1875.

contracted and projects forward, and is narrow in its opposite diameter. This'is' quite important, as when the pin (J is withdrawn from its position, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower end 2 of the trip falls within the opening of the link, and, passing forward or outward, takes the position as shown in Fig. 1. Cars are often required to be uncoupled when the draw-heads are jammed together, and the link D resting or pressing against the back or arch ot' the dome, thepec'nliar' form of the lower end of the trip will allow'it to pass free and easily in the opening of the link, and assume the position as shown in Fig.1, when the coupling-pin is withdrawn. When the draw-heads are apart and the link drawing on the coupling-pin G, the weight and fall of the trip against the link will drive it forward from its position in the mouth or hollow of the drawhead when pin 0 is withdrawn. When the pin is set as in Fig.1, and the trip B is within the hollow of the link D, the inclined or convex rear side of the trip will allow the link to be drawn out without disturbing o'r displacing,the position of the pin 0. The link, while passing the inclined rear side of the trip, causes the trip to rise by means of its pivot-pin b in slots a, andthe act of uncoupling completed, the trip and pin falling into the position as shown in Fig. 1. G isa coupling-pin, slightly tapering in size from head to point, (or the usual coupling-pin,) which, when in its position as set for automatically entering the link, rests upon the short arm or lever 1 of the upper end of the trip B, as shown in Fig. 1, in which position the trip hangs pendent upon its pivot, the short lever or arm having its upper surface horizontal or slightly inclined, and the coupling-pin resting perpendicular, with its lower end upon the arm. The weight of the eccentrically-hung trip is sufficient to suspend and hold the coupling-pin upright under all circumstances, save when struck or carried back by the entering link. The drawhead has a suitable vertical passage or hole fn' thepin C,also a flaring mouth. Llheupper part of the mouth or lip 0', projecting downwardly and inwardly, assists in directing the link into it when the draw-heads arebrought together. The upper lip or upper part of the mouth a" of the draw-head has aslot or bif'un cationin its lower end, through which the pin 0 passes in ascending and descending. This bifurcated lip of the draw-head holds the pin a from being bent or broken by the strain upon in the following manner, viz: The cars as they are brought together for being coupled, the link, being held in one draw-head, enters the draw-head A, and strikes the trip B upon its face, and, resting on its lower end2 as shown in Fig. 1, drives it back into the position as shown in Fig. 2. in its receptacle in the arch of the dome, with the upper endtl depressed,

jl s blding the link from being withdrawn until desired. p a

It will be seen that the shortarm or upper end l of the trip B, when in this position, 1 holds thepin fromjuuiping out of its position or yielding laterally, while the pin prevents the trip descending into the cavity of the l dome and coming in contact withthe link for dropping coupling-pins automatically are -old;' but my invention does not aim broadly 'to coverthis feature, but the features of pertrip in its place beyond the reach or interl inference: of the link when the cars are coupled; also the combined action of the pinand link in carrying thetrip to its position, as

eshown iuFig. 2, and the mutualactionwof the trip and pin in that position, and the facility "of coupling and uncoupling cars when jammed together or apart without failure and without danger to brakemen. it i i My device can be operated b y alelrer placed onthetopor side of aicar, andfbyasingle depression or'tlurn of the handle of the lever the conpling-pincan be withdrawn andset for coupling, or the cars uncoupled andset coupling. a

' the descending pin 0 aiding in oyerconiing thetrip, when the pin falls, passing through the opening in the draw-head and'coupling link, completing the operation of coupling,

What I c aims;-

The crescent shaped or curred and pivoted trip B,ha\ ing the tapering endZand short arm 1 in combinationiwith the draw-head A,

slotted at a, pin 0, and link D, all as and for thepurpos'es set forth. l a a Witnessesz h i MILES B. GonwlN, N. E. VoWLEs; 

